Machine for filling cans



y 1930. F. A. FOSTER ,7 5

' MACHINE FOR FILLING CANS Filed March 5, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 13, 1930. F. A. FOSTER MACHINE FOR FILLING CANS ile March 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wig May 13, 1930.

F. A. FOSTER 1,758,507

MACHINE FOR FILLING CANS Filed March 5, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented May 13, 1930 rrn STAT s :.AraNr orr es VFRANK A. ros'rER, 0F I-IOOPESTON, ILL-more, Assieivon, BYnEsn' ASSIGNMENTS To, sraAeun-sELnscoaroaarron, or noornsrron, rumors mo ma ron nILLrNGcAns i Application filed March 5,1

My invention relates to machines for filling cans and it has'particular relationto machines of the character described wherein means are provided for filling cans with, a mixture of a'plurality of materials, the quantity of mixture in each can being automatically regulated. v

More particularly my invention "contemplates the provision of means,-in a can filling m machine, whereby the mixture of a plurality of materials t-akes place directly in the cans.

, Moreover, Ipropose to allow the cans1to1re-1 mainopen to the air during the time that .they are being filled. Sofar as I 'am aware the embodiment ofthe above'features in can fillingmachines is'novel, the u'sualpractice r at present being to pre-measure the quantity I of mixture to'be supplied to the cans in auxiliary devices. Then, other machines now in use utilize adisplacement plate to obtain a proper ,measurement but this necessitates closing the top of the cans with an air-tight sealing member and those advantages which.

accrue by reason of the can being opento the air are not realized. I f

It is obvious that either of the above methods of supplying cans witha' mixture :of materials involves comparatively complicated apparatus and requires-that the materials which are supplied to the cans be handled more thanwould be the case if the mixing of the materials took place directly in the cans. My invention, on the other hand,'contemplates an apparatus for supplying one of I a plurality of materials directly to the open cans, this material being measured, if desired,

before being so supplied- After one of. the

materials has been placed in the can the other is mixed directly therewith but, as above pointed out, the mixture takes place in a-can that is open to the air and, therefore, certain advantages, hereinafter more specifically indicated, are realized. V

This'latter methodof supplying cans with v a mixture of materials possesses a number of advantages, particularly that of eliminating the necessity for sealing the can toprevent it from overflowing; Moreover, since the filling is performed with the can open, the air escapes freely and no ,air-vent'pipes are nec- 192 1. "Serial No. 449,736;

essary, hence, the materials will mix more rapidly than otherwise and the probability of air being trapped in the canand contributtionI embodymeans in my machine whereby theheight ofthe mixture directly regulates the flow ofmaterial 'intosaid cans, in this wayeliminating allof the complicated mechanism which has heretofore been utilized 'to accomplishthis very desirable result.

5 Foripurpose of illustration only, I will discuss my invention: and the machine embodying the same as utilized in mixing a solid and a liquid material, but it should be understood that these terms are merely relative and" are used for convenience of expression only, since my machine is adapted for filling canstoa uniform predetermined level with a mixture of any such materials as: are usually combined in the canning art. In machinesof the prior :art therehave been attempts to solve the above problem by measuring each ofthe mixture constituents, then 1nixing them,land

finallysupplying this mixture to 'acan. Even a cursory consideration of the problemis perjsua'sive that this method necessitates a considerable amount of mechanism and, moreover, that-in the pre-measuring, as-indicated, both constituents of the mixtures are subject ed to'undesirable handling. r 7

Again, some machines. embody measuring valves that seek to supply a predetermined amount of liquid to. cans in which a pred termined quantity of solid material'has been deposited;- It is my: observation that -while these measuring valves areithe pro not of those skilled in the canning art, they are nevertheless open to some criticism in that theyv do not giv e entire satisfaction in supplying liquid to cans which have been partially filled with solid material, such as fruit,"1nasmuch as the volume of'the latter material will vary to some'extent" and the cans Wlll 'eitherbe slack filled-or will overflow. It is obvious, therefore, thatlmachines 20f this character do not fulfill the requirement that all cans shall be filled to a uniform predetermined level." V

In contradistinction to the above methods of supplying cans with a predetermined quantit-yof mixture and forinsuring the uni- 1 form filling in each can, my machine is so 7 ing my method when it is desired to fill cans with a mixture of solid and liquidmaterial, for instance, a predetermined quantity of solidmaterialbeing initially deposited in the can, the flow ofv liquid thereto will be automaticallyiregulated by the height to which the mixture in the cans'rises, and all the cans i will fill to any desired level regardless of the volume of solid material placed inthe cans.

While this result may be obtained in a-more orless' satisfactory ma nnerby the use of displacement plates itshould be remembered thatthe latter. can only beemployed by seal- ..ing the top of the can and,'as I have above intimated, this particular method offfillingcans is open'to many objections, not the least of which isthei dripping of the liquid from the seal'when the can is-withdr'awn from thefsame. As 'I Wlll hereinafter point out, however, the mechanism in my machine is so arranged that'this undesirable dripping. is

substantially eliminated.

For a better understanding of my invention-reference maybe had to the accompanying drawings; in which,

Fig. 1 is anelevational sectionalview illustrating a machine embodying one form of my invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a plan-view line 33.of Fig. 1;' r

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational, sect onal vlewillustrating one portion of my machine in detail; 1

Fig.5 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating one of the elements of my machine;

As illustrated,=, my invention is embodied in a. machine. comprising abase member 10 "from which radiate, in an upward direction,

bracketsll for purposes. to be hereinafter described; A shaft 12'is: positioned vertically and issupported ati-ts lower endv in. a jour nalled portion 13- (the frameworkand upper support for the shaft not being entirelyillustrate'd for the sake of simplicity).

Secured to the. shaft 12 isa liquid supply cable valve rods lhwhich passthroughthe of the machine shown -in Fig. 1; p

Fig. 3-is aplan sectional vlew taken on the bottom portions of the reservoirs and guide members 18, the latter being secured to the floor of the tank 14.

Likewise secured for rotation with the shaft 12, are a plurality of measuring devices 19, the latter being supplied from asolid material hopper 20, it being understood that said hopper (shown only in Fig. 2) is stationary and that as the upper open ends of the devices 19 register with an opening 21 in the bottom of the hopper, said measuring devices are filled. During the time when these measuring devices are under any portion of the opening 21, a plate 22 covers the open lower ends of the devices thereby preventing the solid material from dropping comp etely through the devices. Positoined directly beneath each measuring device 19 is a guide way or spout 23 which is slightly convergent in character and whereby the material in the devices 19, after the latter pass from over the plate 22, is guided downwardly into a can 24. a

The cans, upon beingsu'pplied to the machine'by devices forming no part of my invention and,therefore, not herein further described, are positioned on individual canilifts 25, the latter reciprocating in guide ways 26 arranged annularly around a table 27, the latter being secured to the shaft 12 and revolving therewith. Pins 2828 are secured to the bottom of the lifts 26 and carry, at one 1 end thereof, wheels 29'29,' said'wheels traveling in a camtrack 30* formed in a vertically extending annular lip 31, the latter comprising a portion of a trough structure 32 carried by the brackets 11. When the table 27 revolves the can lifts are reciprocated vertically by reason ofthe traveling of the wheels'29 about the stationary track 30. r

Considering the can. 24, as shown, it will be: observed that the samelias been lifted upwardly by the can lift 25 to somewhat surround a downwardly extending member 33 which is secured to the lower end of the spout 23. Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 the member 33 comprises a cylindrical portion 3 1 secured to the lower end of the spout 23 and which acts as a guide Way for the solid material passing from the spout 23 into the can 24-.

A casting 35 is so shaped andassociated with the tubular member 34 that an annular chamber 36 is formed into which material is delivered through apa ssage 37, the latter terminating at the right hand upper portion of the casting 35in a chamber 38 which, as may be observed by reference to Fig. 1, closes the'bottomportion of the reservoirs 15. The valve rods 17 are journalled at their lower ends in'the opening 39. The bottom of the annular chamber 36 is closed by a flat ring portion 40 formed integrally on the casting 35 and which has a plurality of openings orp'orts 41 formed therein. A valve memsired results.

'ber 42 is journalled faboutthelower end of member 42 comprises an integrally formed -lug portion 46 to which is pinned at 46 an actuating rod 47 whereby said valve member 42 may be oscillated. This rod 47 carries at its inner end a donwardly extending lug 48,at the lower end of which is a roller 49, the latter being adapted to roll along the cam surfaces formed by the verticalextending'walls 50 and 51 of a casting 52. On the walls 50 and 51 are protuberances 50 and 51*, respectively, which operate to throw the rod 47 inoppositedirections to cause the de- It will be understoodthat the casting52 and consequently the-cam surfaces 50 and 51 remain stationary'whereby the rotation of the entire mechanism includin the valves 42 and their actuating rods 4 about the center of 'themachine, causes the reciprocation of said rods 47 to oscillate the Valve 42. i

Another cam surface or track 53 is formed by a portion of the casting 52. Wheels 5454are attached to the lower ends of the valve rods 16-16 and ride upon said cam track 53 thereby serving to openand close the valve16 at predetermined points in the operationof the machine. 7 V 1 Air pipes 55-55 extend from the upper portions of the reservoirs 15-15 downwardly and terminate at the lower ends of the members 35, it being understood that one of 'theports 45 in the oscillating valve 42 serves to open and close the" lower end of saidpipe 5 5. It should also'be observedthat the liquid supply'ports 41 and the lower end of said pipe 55 are co-planar and that they are substantially flush with the bottom of the material supply means; The'entire revoluable mechanism, that is, the material measuringdevices, the liquid tank, the auxiliary reservoirs, etc., may be raised with respect to the can lifts 25 by utilizing any well known means for raising said elements with respect to the cans to thereby vary the distance which the Imember33 extends into the can; or the cam track 31 may take the form shown in thepatent to Haight, No. 1,029,681, owned by the assignee herein, and if this latter means is utilized, the adjustment of the elevationof the can lifttrack may be varied to cause-the member 33 to projectvarying distancesinto,thecan, h In either of theseways and 41 and is mixed with the the level to which the mixture in said cans rises may be varied when desired.

Having described a machine embodying one form of my invention the operation thereof is as follows, it being understood throughout that, as hereinbefore indicated, the use of the terms solid material and liquid material are for purposes of illustration only i and is not intended as imposing upon the invention herem disclosed, any limitation as tozthe materials with which my heretofore described machine may be used;

A solid material is assumedly containedin the stationary hopper 20 whence it is fed through the opening 21 to the measuring devices 19 as they are brought successively into registry with said opening 21, it being understood that the lower open ends of said devices are closed by a plate 22 during the time that the upper open ends of the devices are in registry with the opening 21. In this manner a predetermined amount of solid material is measured into each device, it being observed that these devices comprise telescopic sides and that, therefore, the quantity of material containable therein may be varied by extending or collapsing said'sides. At the same time'the cans 24 are supplied to the machine and are elevated so that the member 33 extends a predetermined distance, this latter distance being determined by the level to which it isdesired that the mixture shall rise. Likewise, during substantially the same period the valves 16 are opened and the oscillating valve 42 is so positioned that the ports 41 and the bottom end of the air intake pipe 55 are closed.- Therefore, the reservoirs 15 are filled with liquid from the tank 14. When the devices 19 pass from over the plate 22 the measured quantity of solid material contained in each device flows downwardly through the spout 23 and the passage 33 into the cans which are positioned under each spout. The cam members 50 and 51 operate to throw the rods 47 in opposite directions and pursuant to this actuation the valve 42 is so oscillatedthat after the solid material has been deposited in the can the ports 41 and the lower end of the air pipe 55 are uncovered. The air then flows upwardly along the pipe 55 and exertssuch pressure above the liquid in the reservoirs 15 that said liquid flows downwardly through the ports solid material directly in the can.

When the mixture rises to such a height that the bottom of the member 33 and consequently the ports 41 and the intake'end of the pipe 55 are covered, the hydrostatic condition is such that the pressures are balanced and said liquid ceases to flow whereby the mixture level in the can is automatically determined. After the hydrostatic stoppage of the liquid flow, the ports 41 and the intake by the oscillationof the valve 42 due to the cam action on the rods 47, hereinbeiore de scribed. The above described cycle of operations is obtained as each can comes into the proper position and subsequently the cycle'is repeated indefinitely. From the above description of the operation of my machine, it will be apparent, to those skilled in the art that I have provided means whereby two materials may be mixed directly in the ultimate container of said mixing of materials in an open can, a provision whichinsures the free escape of theair from the interstices between the solid material. This venting ofthe air, it will be observed, is accomplished by my machine without the employment of air vent pipesand, moreover, I find that, because of this open can mixing, the speed of the machine may be increased since the liquid flows in between the fruit or solid material much more rapidly than is the case when displacement plates and their accompanying can seals are employed.

Finally, the provision of the liquid supply ports as well as the hydrostatic valve at the extremeen-dof the member 33 substantially eliminates the dripping and consequent Waste of material which is a shortcoming of some of the machines atpresent used. This advantage is heightened by the use of a mechanical r shut-01f which operates after the liquid has been hydrostatically stopped, as herein before described.

While I have described but one embodiment of my machine it is obvious that many modifications therein may occur. to those skilled in the art and Idesire, therefore, that my invention be limited only by the showing of the prior art and by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l p

i 1. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of solid and liquid materials, means for initially measuring a quantity of solid material, a spout through which said measured quantities of solid material are supplied to open cans, means for positioning the cans so that said spout extends a predetermined distance thereinto, a liquid reservoir, means for supplying liquid from the latter to the can, and anair intake extending from the lower end of said spout into said reservoir whereby themixture level in said cans is regulated.

2. Ina machine for filling cans with a mixture of solid and liquid materials, means for initially measuring a quantity of solid material and supplying the same to open cans, means for positioning the cans so that said spout extends a predetermined distance thereinto, a liquid reservoir, means comprising an annular series of ports around the lower end of said spoutfor supplying liquid from said reservoir to the cans, and an air intake having its lower end positioned on said spout and extending into said reservoir whereby the mixture level in said cans is regulated.

3. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of solid and liquid materials, means for initially measuring a quantity of solid material, a spout through which said measured quantities of solid material are supplied to open cans, means for positioning the cans so that said spout extends apredetermined distance thereinto, a liquid reservoir, means for supplying liquid from the latter to the cans, an air intake extending from the lower end of said spout into said reservoir whereby the mixture level in said cans hydrostatically closes the liquid supply, and means for thereafter mechan cally closing said liquid sup- P ye 4;. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of liquid and solid materials, a hopper for solid material, a series of solid measuring devices adapted to be filled from said hopper,

'a liquid tank, a series of auxiliary reservoirs adapted to be filled from said tank, a spout comprising a guideway to deliver said measured quantities of solidsto open cans and comprising a passage for the delivery of liquid to said cans from said reservoirs whereby said materials are mixed directly in said cans, and means associated with said spout and said liquid reservoirsto predetermine the" mixture level in said open cans.

5. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of liquid and solid materials, a hopper for'solid materials, a series of solid measuring devices adapted to be filled from said hopper, a liquid tank, a series of auxiliary reservoirs adapted to be filled from said tank, a spout comprising a centrally disposed guideway to deliver said measured quantities of solids to open cans and comprising a passage terminating in ports annularly disposed about said central portion of the spout for the delivery of'liquid to said cans from said reservoirs whereby said materials are mixed directly in said cans, and an air pipe extending from the spout to the upper portion of said liquid reservoirs to predetermine the mixture level in said open cans.

6. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of liquid and solid materials, a hopper for solid materials, a series of solid measur ing devices adapted to be filled from said hopper, a liquid tank, a series of auxiliary reservoirs adapted to be filled from said tank,

a spout comprising a centrally disposed guideway to deliver said measured quantities of solids to open cans and comprising a pas sage terminating in ports annularly disposed about said central portion of the spout for the delivery of liquid to said cans from said reservoirs whereby said materials are mixed directly in said cans, an air pipe extending from the spout to the upper portion of said liquid reservoirs to predetermine the mixture level in said open cans, and means for mechanically opening and closing said ports and the open end of said air pipe.

7 In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of liquid and solid materials, a hopper for solid materials, a series of solid measuring devices adapted to be filled from said hopper, a liquid tank, a series of auxiliary reservoirs adapted to be filled from said tank, a spout comprising a centrally disposed guideway to deliver said measured quantities of solids to open cans and comprising a passage torminating in ports annularly disposed about said central portion of the spout for the delivery of liquid to said cans from said reservoirs, whereby said matetials are mixed directly in said cans, an air pipe extending from the spout to the upper portion of said liquid reservoirs to predetermine the mixture level in said open cans, and means comprising a ring having openings which are brought into registry with said ports and the open end of said air pipe to open and close the same.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRANK A. FOSTER. 

